Meningitis B cases in babies drop by 40% thanks to jab

So why can’t older children be protected too?

CASES of meningitis B in babies have almost halved since a vaccine was introduced, figures reveal.

The jab was brought in for under-ones last September and since then instances of meningitis and blood poisoning, which can be caused by the same bacteria, have dropped by 42 per cent.

The findings prompted experts last night to renew calls for the vaccine to be extended to children up to the age of five.

The figures, released by Public Health England, showed the Bexsero vaccine was 83 per cent effective against the diseases.

The injection was introduced after growing pressure from charities, highlighted in the Daily Mail, which had warned that children were dying or suffering horrific injuries from meningitis B.

But the Government only allowed the vaccine, which is free on the NHS, to be given to children under one as they are most at risk, arguing it was not cost-effective to extend it to older children.

That decision was widely criticised, with more than 800,000 people signing a petition for the jab to be made available to all primary school children.

The petition became the most- signed ever after the parents of two-year-old Faye Burdett, who died from meningitis B, shared a shocking image of their daughter lying in a hospital bed covered in a rash just before she died in February. The data, presented yesterday at the International Pathogenic Neisseria Conference in Manchester, showed there were 37 cases among under-ones in the first ten months of the vaccination programme – a significant drop from an average of 74 cases in the same period over the previous four years.

The vaccine protects against meningococcal group B bacteria, which cause both meningitis – an inflammation of the lining around the brain and spinal cord – and septicaemia, which is blood poisoning. Both diseases can be fatal.

The vaccination was offered to babies born on or after May 1, 2015, and more than 540,000 have received it – but experts said more children should be protected.

Vinny Smith, chief executive of the Meningitis Research Foundation, said the early results are ‘great news for families’ as they show immunisation for children under one is ‘effective and saving lives’.

But he added: ‘Restricting the vaccine to only this narrow highest risk age group can never prevent the majority of cases. We will continue to convince the UK Government that everyone needs protection.’

Liz Brown, of charity Meningitis Now, added: ‘We can’t afford to rest on our laurels yet. Children born before May last year remain unprotected and are at increased risk of catching this deadly and devastating disease up to the age of five.’

Dr Mary Ramsay, head of immunisation at Public Health England, said: ‘This is without doubt great news. Meningitis B is a rare, but terrible disease. It’s cut many lives short and can leave children maimed for life, causing devastation for their families.

‘Now we know this vaccine can and will save lives and prevent life-long disability. The programme is still in its early days, so we will be monitoring the longer-term impact of the vaccine through our surveillance programme.’

The Bexsero vaccine is offered as three jabs, one at two months, a second at four months and a final booster at 12 months.

Public Health England, which monitored the programme, found 95 per cent of babies got their first jab and almost 90 per cent the second jab by the age of six months. Dr Ramsay said: ‘Infants are most at risk during their first year, so we urge parents to make sure their babies get the first two jabs on time to give them the best protection.’

The vaccine, made by UK company GlaxoSmithKline, costs £75 for each dose but the NHS gets an undisclosed discount, taking the cost down to an estimated £20.

‘Deadly and devastating disease’